Mages= TOTALLY viable
fable wrote:If mages were truly capable of working on their own in Morrowind, I'd probably try one, but since they can't, I usually run a fighter/mage.
A pure mage is insanely viable in Morrowind. Breton/ apprentice combo is awesome. As is Altmer/Atronach.
Biggest problem is magicka supply, so get your int up and viola! Increasing int-based skills (alchemy especially) is laughably easy and there is no reason whatsoever for a mage to NOT have a x5 multiplier on int every level.
That being said it's a good idea to take your first few levels training up alchemy, enchant, and conjuration to increase your int before you try fighting anything of consequence. Also, consider training up endurance based skills (which one or two you pick doesn't really matter) to increase the amount of health you get per lvl.
A lvl 20 mage is virtually unstopable if they're careful about magicka usage, and if it was a well-thought-out build even that shouldn't be a major issue. (not to mention the added magicka pool granted by enchanting)
You'll either be flying above the fight, hiding behind an unstoppable summon, paralyzing everything around you, or otherwise incapacitating your enemies (dmg fatigue, str, or end; blind, command, etc. etc.), so you're pretty much invincible.
Possible build for pure mage:
Race: Breton
Sign: Apprentice (atronach works toobut is annoying, and mage just isn't quite enough to get the job done)
Specialty: magic (obviously)
Favored attributes: int and luck
Major:
Destruction
Conjuration
Alteration
Illusion
Light Armor (no reason not to and unarmored is not worth the spot on your skill list)
Minor:
Mysticism
Alchemy
Enchant
Restoration
Short Blade/ Blunt Weapon (if you're really that insecure about your magicka running out)
Good spells to use once you get high enough are weakness to fire/magicka/poison/etc., paralyze over area, command, and i personally find blind to be extremely useful (makes enemies miss you A LOT, and if 100% or close they will simply run away)
If your enemy cant do anything, they should fall very fast to the tremendous amounts of damage you can deal.